Closure for laundry machines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. F. WIDIGEN CLOSURE FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES sept. 14, 1965 Filed March 6, 1962 ALBEET F. W//'E/V BY fm w 62.7%

ATTORNEYS Sept- 14 1965 A. F. wlDlGEN 3,206,058

CLOSURE FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed March 6, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

INVENTOR. ALBERT F. W//GE/Vl ATTORNEYS United States Patent O M 3,266,055 CLSURE FR LAUNDRY MACHENES Albert F. Widigen, Davenport, Iowa, assigner to Ametek, Inc., New York, NSY., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 177,828 5 Claims. (Cl. 22d-35) The present invention relates to laundry machines, and particularly to a new and improved fluid-operated shell door for a commercial Washing machine.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a shell door for a commercial washing machine which is opened and closed by fluid-operated means.

Another object of the invention is to provide such fluid-operated shell door in which Ia fluid-operated locking means is employed that prevents leakage about the tracks that guide the shell door in moving between its open and closed positions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a laundry machine having a shell door that is counterbalanced and opened and closed by fluid-operated means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a laundry machine in which the shell door is rigidly mounted on a framework at each end thereof that ensures concentric movement of the door relative to the shell of the machine that encases the rotating drum within which the articles to be laundered are placed.

In one aspect of the invention, a non-rotatable cylindrical shell may house a rotatable cylindrical basket that is provided with trunnions extending through the side walls of the housing and journaled in aligned bearing that are mounted on suitable standards. 'Ihe front of the housing may include access opening means for readily loading and unloading the rotatable basket.

In another aspect of the invention, slidable door means may be mounted in tracks on the surface of said housing and may have the capacity to sealingly close said access opening means in one of its slidable positions and to uncover said access opening means in another of its slidable positions.

In still another aspect of the invention, the slidable door means may be connected at each end thereof to a rigid framework that is journaled on means having an axis coincident with that of the trunnion means of the rotatable basket within the shell housing.

In still another aspect of the invention, the shell door construction may be composed of two sections that are hooked together along their longitudinal adjoining edges, and tension spring means may be connected between one section and a stationary supporting member in order to provide a counterbalance for the shell door construction.

In still another aspect of the invention, concentrically arranged track means may be slightly spaced radially at each end of the shell housing for receiving and guiding the end edges of the shell door construction. A section of each track means may be pivotally connected to another section and may include a resilient lining adapted to contact a substantial portion of the shell door edge construction.

In still another aspect of the invention, the end of the pivotally mounted portion of the track means opposite that `of the pivotal lconnection may be connected to a fluid-actuated piston and cylinder device through a bell crank construction.

In still another aspect of the invention, the framework at each end of the shell housing that is journaled on the axis of the basket trunnions may be connected to a fluid-actuated piston and cylinder device that is pivotally mounted on the standards supporting the machine.

The above, other objects and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following speci- 3,2%,058 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 ICC cation and accompanying drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a front elevational view of a laundry washing machine to which the principles of the invention have been applied; and

FIG. 2 is a View looking in the direction of the arrows along line 2 2 of FIG. l.

Referring to the drawings, the principles of the invention are shown as applied to a laundry washing ma- -ohine including a shell 10 of sheet metal that is nonrotatably mounted and houses a rotatable basket (not shown) within which articles to be laundered are loaded. The basket may be provided with trunnions 11 and 12, suitably journaled in aligned bearings at each end of the housing 10 and which bearings are mounted on suitable standards 13 and 14.

The shell 10 may be provided with an access opening extending from a point 1S to a point 16 about shell 10, for the purpose of providing ready access to the laundry receiving basket within the shell 1t).

The access opening is adapted to be covered by a sliding door -construction 17 which may include an upper portion 1B and a lower portion 19. The lower portion 19 of the door 17 may be made from an arcuately shaped sheet of metal having reinforcing angle members 20 at each end thereof as well as centrally thereof, and other reinforcing angle members 21 along the longitudinal edges of portion 19. Brackets 22 may be fixed to the angle members 21 at the opposite ends of portion 19 and they may xedly support rods 23 for a purpose to be described later. The sheet of metal forming portion 19 of door construction 17 may include a portion 24 that extends beyond the angle members 20 adapted to ride between stationary track members 25 and 26.

The backof the upper edge of portion 19 may be provided with hook means 27 adapted to engage a mating hook means 28 on the lower end of the portion 1S of door construction 17. The portion 18 may also be made from an arcuate sheet of metal and its transverse edges may run between -track 26 and the peripheral anges 29 at the ends of housing 10 formed by the access opening 15, 16.

A bracket 30 may be fixed to the upper portion 18 of door construction 17 and it may be connected to one end of a tension spring 31, the opposite end of which is connected to a spool 32 mounted on a stationary bracket 33 fixed to the housing 10. The spool 32 is maintained under a torsional force tending to retract spring 31 for a purpose to be described later.

The parallel rods 23 that are mounted at the four corners of the door portion 19 may be fixed to an A- frame construction 34 by bolts 35. The frame 34 may include legs 36 and 37 that extend from a hub 38 journaled on the axis of rotation of the trunnions 11 and 12. A rigid reinforcing bar 39 may join legs 36 and 3'7. The construction and arrangement of the parts may be such that movement of the frame 34 about the axis of trunnions 11, 12 causes accurate sealing registry between the portion 19 and the tracks 2S and 26. There is a like frame 34 at the other end of housing 10, and both are adapted simultaneously to be operated by fluid-operated means including a cylinder 40 that is connected to a bracket 41 on the standard 14 by a pivot pin 42. The -cylinder may include a piston having a piston rod 43 that is connected to the leg 37 of frame 34 by a pivot pin 44. Fluid-lines 45 and 46 may be provided at each end of cyliner 40 to supply the cylinder with pressure uid to effect the movement of the frame 34 and with it portlon 19 of door construction 17.

A stationary track member 25 may have a hinge 47 thereon for connecting to it a section 48 of said track.

The section 48 may be formed to receive a resilient shoe 49 that rides on the edge portion Z4 of sheet metal forming the portion 19. The end of section 48 opposite hinge 47 may support a bracket 50 having spaced threaded rods 51 attached thereto. The 'threaded rods S1 may be connected to a plate 52 that is integral with one arm 53 of a bell crank lever, the other arm 54 of which is pivotally connected to a piston rod 55 that supports a piston (not shown) within a cylinder 56. The cylinder 55 may be pivotally attached to a bracket 56 that is fixed to the standard 14. Fluid lines 57 and 58 supply pressure duid to each end of the cylinder 56 for operating the bell crank S3, 54 to unlock and lock the pivoted section 48 of the track 25 prior to, and after movement of the door portion i9. Of course, there is an identical cylinder and bell crank mechanism on each end of the housing for operating identical pivoted track sections 48 simultaneousl Vig/ith the apparatus in the condition shown Ain the drawings, iiuid under pressure is simultaneously admitted to lines 58 of each of the cylinders 5d with lines 57 thereof open to exhaust. This causes the release of the pivoted section 43 of the track means 25. Pressure fluid is then admitted simultaneously to lines 45 of each cylinder 40 with lines 46 thereof open to exhaust. This causes the frames 34 to move -clockwise (FIG. 2), raising the lower portion 19 of the door construction 17. The upper portion 18 follows the upward movement of portion 19 due to the tension 'spring 31 retracting. Electrical or mechanical means (not shown) can be provided to prevent pressure fluid from moving Iin lines 45 unless pivoted section 4S is released.

When the rotating basket within the housing 1Q has been loaded, pressure fluid is admitted simultaneously to lines 46 of cylinders 40 While lines 45 are open to exhaust. This causes the A-frames 34 to move counterclockwise (FIG. 2), thereby lowering the lower portion 19, and the hooked connection 27, 2S between it and the upper portion 18 pulls the latter along with the portion 19 until the access opening 15, 16 is closed. Thereafter, pressure fluid is simultaneously admitted to lines 57 of cylinders 56 while lines 58 are exhausted. This operates the bell crank 53, 54 to pull track section 48 downwardly on each end of portion 19, whereupon the shoes 49 forcibly engage the portions 24 thereunder to effectively lock the door construction in its closed position. Also, electrical or mechanical means (not shown) can be provided to prevent pressure iiuid from moving in lines 45 unless pivoted section 48 is released.

Although the various features of the new and improved laundry washing machine have been shown and described 1n detail to fully disclose one embodiment of the invention, it will be evident that changes may be made in such details and certain features may be used without others w1tnout departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a laundry washing machine, a stationary housing having a cylindrical surface portion .and adapted to house a rotating basket; aligned trunnions extending through the end walls of said housing; an access opening in said cylindrical surface portion leading to the interior of said housing; frame means at each end of said housing, having spaced legs rigidly xed together and journaled along the axis Iof said trunnions; arcuate track means extending along said cylindrical surface portion at each end thereof; door means comprising a lower portion connected to the legs of said frame means and including edge means riding in said track means; an upper portion hooked to said lower portion and including edge means riding in said track means; and tension spring means normally acting to bias said upper portion toward a position in which said access opening is uncovered by said lower door portion.

2. 4ln a laundry washing machine, a stationary housing having a cylindrical surface portion and adapted to house a rotating basket; aligned trunnions extending through the end walls of said housing; an access opening in said cylindrical surface portion leading to the interior of said housing; frame means at each end of said housing, having spaced legs rigidly fixed together .and journaled along the .axis of said trunnions; arcuate track means extending along said cylindrical surface portion at each end thereof; door means comprising a lower portion connected to the legs of said frame means and including edge means riding in said track means; an upper portion hooked to said lower portion .and including edge means rid-ing in said track means; tension spring means normally acting to bias said upper portion toward a position in which said access opening is uncovered by said lower door portion; and fluid-operated means for moving said frame means `about the axis of said trunnions.

3. In a laundry washing machine, a stationary housing having a cylindrical surface portion and adapted to house a rotating basket; aligned trunnions extending through the end walls of said housing; yan access opening in said cylindrical surface portion leading to the interior of said housing; frame means at ecah end of said housing, having spaced legs rigidly iixed together and journaled along the axis of said trunnions; door means comprising a lower portion connected to the legs of said frame means; an upper porti-on hooked to said lower portion; tension spring means normally acting to bias said upper portion toward a position in which said access opening is uncovered by said lower door portion; station-ary track section means at each end `of said housing for receiving the end edges of said upper and lower portions of said door means; other track section means Ipivoted 4to said stationary track section means; land fluid-operated means for causing said pivoted track section means to lock and unlock the lower portion of said door means.

4. ln a laundry Washing machine, a stationary housing having a cylindrical surface porti-on and adapted to house a rota-ting basket; aligned trunnions extending through the end walls of said housing; an yaccess opening in said cylindrical surface portion leading to the interior of said housing; A-shaped frame means at each end of said housing; bearing means at Ithe apex of said A-shaped frame means journaled on the axis of said trunnions; an arcuate door for covering and uncovering said access opening; means connecting the ends of the legs of said A-shaped frame means opposite said apex to said arcuate door; a cylinder mechanism pivotally connected to stationary means; a piston rod for said cylinder mechanism connected to one of the legs of sa-id A-shaped frame means; stationary track section means at each end of said housing for receiving the end edges of said arcuate door; other track section means pivoted to said stationary track section means; and fluid-operated means for causing said pivoted track sect-ion means to lock and unlock said door.

5. In a laundry washing machine, a stationary housing having la cylindrical surface portion and adapted to house a rotating basket; aligned trunnions extending through the end walls of said housing; an access opening in said cylindrical surface portion leading to the interior of said housing; lA-shaped frame means at each end of said housing; bearing means `at the apex of said A-shaped frame means journaled on the axis of said trunnions; arcuate track means extending lalong said cylindrical surface portion at each end thereof; door means comprising a lower port-ion connected to the ends of the legs of said A-shaped frame means opposite said apex and r including edge means riding in said track means; an

5 6 Said cylinder mechanism connected to one of the legs of 2,864,526 12/ 58 Buss 220-14 said A-shaped frame means. 2,889,068 6/59 Miller 220-36 2,921,710 1/60 :Hutterer 200-41 References Cited by the Examiner 3,058,331 10/62 Madonna 22o-41 5 3,067,986 12/62 Grantham 220-36 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,071,184 1/63 Peel 16m-188 2,648,458 8/53 Petersen 220-41 2,701,112 2/55 Powers 22,0 35 THE/RON E. CONDON, Primary Exdmlllel. 2,774,506 12/ 56 Miller 220-34 EARLE I. DRUMMOND, GEORGE O. RALSTON,

2,800,348 7/57 Parsley 220-16 10 Examiners. 

1. IN A LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE, A STATIONARY HOUSING HAVING A CYLINDRICAL SURFACE PORTION AND ADAPTED TO HOUSE A ROTATING BASKET; ALIGNED TRUNNIONS EXTENDING THROUGH THE END WALLS OF SAID HOUSING; AN ACCESS OPENING IN SAID CYLINDRICAL SURFACE PORTION LEADING TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING; FRAME MEANS AT EACH END OF SAID HOUSING, HAVING SPACED LEGS RIGIDLY FIXED TOGETHER AND JOURNALED ALONG THE AXIS OF SAID TRUNNIONS; ARCUATE TRACK MEANS EXTENDING ALONG SAID CYLINDRICAL SURFACE PORTION AT EACH END THEREOF; DOOR MEANS COMPRISING A LOWER PORTION CONNECTED TO THE LEGS OF SAID FRAME MEANS AND INCLUDING EDGE MEANS RIDING IN SAID TRACK MEANS; AN UPPER PORTION HOOKED TO SAID LOWER PORTION AND INCLUDING EDGE MEANS RIDING IN SAID TRACK MEANS; AND TENSION SPRING MEANS NORMALLY ACTING TO BIAS SAID UPPER PORTION TOWARD A POSITION IN WHICH SAID ACCESS OPENING IS UNCOVERED BY SAID LOWER DOOR PORTION. 